Factors Associated with Prenatal Attachment Among First-Time Pregnant Adolescents in Songkhla Province, Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Prenatal attachment—the bond a pregnant woman forms with her unborn child—has been associated with postpartum bonding and infant development, yet its predictors among first-time pregnant adolescents remain unclear. Methods: This cross-sectional predictive correlational study examined prenatal attachment and its predictors among 136 first-time pregnant adolescents aged 13–19 years in Songkhla, Thailand. Hierarchical regression (gestational age entered first) used 134 participants. Results: Prenatal attachment was very high (M = 123.23, SD = 12.65; mean item score = 4.25/5). No participant screened positive for intimate partner violence, so this variable was excluded from regression. Gestational age alone explained 20.1% of the variance (β = 0.448, p < 0.001); adding the psychosocial block raised this to 36.7% (ΔR2 = 0.166, p < 0.001), with gestational age (β = 0.454), social support (β = 0.269), and self-esteem (β = 0.160) being significant and marital relationship, stress, and depression not. These results remained unchanged when we analyzed all 136 participants and after adjusting for maternal age, pregnancy planning, and hospital site. Conclusions: Prenatal attachment was very high, and social support and self-esteem predicted it independently of gestational age. Nursing interventions that strengthen social support and self-esteem early in pregnancy may help promote prenatal attachment in this group.